Invest Atlanta Small Business Improvement Grant (SBIG)
Invest Atlanta (Atlanta Development Authority)
Up to $50,000
TAD improvement grants for Atlanta small businesses
Tax Allocation District (TAD)-funded grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses and commercial property owners in seven designated Atlanta neighborhoods making interior or exterior property improvements. Funded by TAD revenues, not the general City budget. Awardees must provide a 10% match. Eligible improvements include facades, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and ADA upgrades. 2025–2026 application window: January–May 2026.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Most recipients receive $10,000–$50,000 depending on project scope. The 10% match requirement means a $50,000 grant requ…
- Deadline
- 2025–2026 cycle: January 2026 – May 2026. Next cycle timeline TBD.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- GA
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Business or commercial property must be located in one of 7 eligible Atlanta Tax Allocation Districts (TADs): Campbellton Road, Hollowell-ML King, Metropolitan Parkway, Perry Bolton, Eastside, Westside, or Stadium Neighborhoods
- Project property must be less than 15,000 square feet
- Applicants include: small business tenants, commercial property owners, and vacant property owners (if improvements bring the property to leasable condition)
- Awardees must provide a 10% match of the grant amount
- Project must not be feasible without TAD grant assistance (but-for test)
- Businesses must demonstrate the project will result in or support job creation or equitable economic development
Hard requirements
- Location restriction: One of 7 eligible Atlanta Tax Allocation Districts
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Exterior improvements (minimum 25% of total grant): painting, lighting, windows, doors, signage, landscaping, masonry repair
- Interior improvements: flooring, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical, structural repairs
- Soft costs (architectural and planning fees): up to 10% of the grant amount
- ADA accessibility improvements
- Improvements to bring vacant commercial space to leasable condition
Ineligible expenses
- Furniture, fixtures, or movable equipment not permanently affixed to the property
- Inventory or supplies
- Work begun before grant award
- Properties outside the 7 eligible Atlanta TADs
- Properties exceeding 15,000 square feet
- New construction on vacant land (must be improvements to an existing structure)
How to apply
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1
Verify TAD eligibility using the Invest Atlanta map
Visit investatlanta.com/businesses/small-businesses/small-business-improvement-grants and use the embedded map tool to confirm your property is within one of the 7 eligible TADs. Properties outside these boundaries are not eligible regardless of need.
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2
Register in the Neighborly Portal
Create an account at neighborly.investatlanta.com. Complete the preliminary eligibility questionnaire to confirm basic program fit before investing time in the full application.
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3
Prepare project documentation and contractor bids
Obtain contractor bids for each project component. Document that at least 25% of the grant will go toward exterior improvements. Gather proof of property ownership or lease, business financials, and a project narrative explaining why the project would not happen without the grant.
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4
Submit the full application through Neighborly
Complete the SBIG application before the cycle deadline (May 2026 for the current cycle). Include all required attachments: contractor bids, financial documentation, TAD eligibility verification, and a description of job creation or community impact.
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5
Receive award, execute grant agreement, complete improvements
Invest Atlanta reviews and awards grants. Awardees sign a grant agreement and begin work. Reimbursement is issued after work is completed and verified. Must demonstrate continued operation and use of the property for the grant period.
At least 25% of grant funds must go toward exterior improvements — you can't use the full $50K on interior HVAC alone. The 'but-for' test (project wouldn't happen without the grant) is evaluated seriously; have a clear financial narrative ready.
Deadline & timing
The 2025–2026 application window ran January–May 2026. Invest Atlanta typically opens a new cycle annually; check investatlanta.com for cycle announcements. Applications are submitted through the Neighborly Portal.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.